Todd Solondz's New Feature 'Frappuccino' Heads to Cartagena and New York for Early 2027 Shoot

Todd Solondz is back, and working professionals in both the New York and international arenas should take note. The writer-director behind some of American independent cinema's most distinctive and provocative films is currently in casting and pre-production on a new feature titled Frappuccino, a drama-romance with his signature dark comedy edge. The film is set to shoot from January 15 through March 31, 2027, splitting production between Cartagena, Colombia and New York City. With a SAG-AFTRA Basic Theatrical Agreement in place and casting already underway, the hiring window for department heads and key crew is very much open.

Solondz wrote and is directing Frappuccino, a story centered on an 80-year-old Jewish woman in Florida who falls for her much younger Trinidadian aide, a romance that crosses generational, cultural, and social lines. The premise carries all the hallmarks of a Solondz project: genuine emotional tenderness wrapped in uncomfortable social observation. Solondz is best known for Welcome to the Dollhouse, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 1996, and Happiness, the unflinching 1998 ensemble drama that became one of the defining films of American indie cinema. His subsequent work, including Storytelling, Palindromes, Life During Wartime, and Dark Horse, has kept him firmly in the conversation as one of the most uncompromising voices working outside the studio system. Casting is being handled by Meredith Tucker and Jessica Daniels, with Sydnie Rathe serving as casting assistant. Tucker and Daniels are well-regarded in the independent film space, and their involvement signals that the search for the film's central leads is likely already in active motion.

Producers on the project are Derrick Tseng and Atilla Yucer. Tseng has producing credits across the independent film world, and Yucer has a background in international co-productions, which makes the dual-location shoot feel well-considered from a logistics standpoint rather than an afterthought. No studio or streaming distributor has been publicly confirmed at this stage, which is consistent with how Solondz productions typically operate: they are built independently and sold into the market, often premiering at major festivals before landing distribution. Budget tier signals are modest by studio standards but comfortable for a SAG-AFTRA Basic Theatrical Agreement production, which typically covers mid-range independent features. Crew can expect a tight, purposeful operation rather than a sprawling studio production.

The two filming locations make this one of the more logistically interesting independent features currently in the pipeline. Cartagena, Colombia is an increasingly popular destination for international productions drawn by its striking architecture, its Caribbean coastal light, and a significantly favorable cost structure compared to equivalent shooting in the United States. Colombia does not offer a U.S.-style tax incentive rebate to foreign productions in the same way that many American states do, but the production savings on below-the-line costs can be substantial, and the country has a growing infrastructure of experienced local crew. American productions filming in Cartagena typically bring their key department heads from the U.S. or Europe while hiring locally for crew, extras, and production support. Spanish-language fluency is a genuine asset for anyone pursuing a production coordinator or locations role on this project. The New York City portion of the shoot will benefit from one of the deepest and most experienced local crew bases in the world, and New York State's film tax credit program, which offers a 25 to 35 percent transferable credit on qualified production costs, remains one of the most attractive in North America.

Given the January 2027 start date, the production is still in a relatively early phase of crew assembly, but with casting actively underway, department heads in art, costume, and camera should be positioning themselves now. The genre mix of drama, romance, and dark comedy suggests a production that will lean heavily on performance and atmosphere over spectacle. That said, the two-continent scope means a strong locations department and a production coordinator with international experience will be essential. Shooting in Cartagena also implies meaningful work for the costume and production design teams, as the visual contrast between the Colombian coastal setting and New York will need to feel intentional and coherent. The SAG-AFTRA Basic Theatrical Agreement status confirms this is a union production, which is useful information for crew assessing their eligibility and rate expectations.

For the full production listing, including contact information, office addresses, and crew details as they are confirmed, head to ProductionList.com and pull up the Frappuccino entry directly. Given that casting is already in motion and the January 2027 cameras-up date gives the team a meaningful but not unlimited pre-production runway, now is the right time to get your name in front of the right people on this one. Bookmark the listing and check back regularly as department heads are confirmed and the production office comes fully online.

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